Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-05-18
FISH AND GAME.
Meeting of the State Fish Commissioner
ut San Franci,cO.

Meeting OF the state FISH commissioners
at San Francisco.
The Board of Fish Commissioners met at
San Francisco last Monday, all the men,
bers present.
Joseph D. Redding, Agent of the United
States Fish Commission, stated that no
shipment of Holsters would be made from
the East this year, owing to the operation
of the Interstate Commerce Act. In speak
ing of striped bass found in the rivers OF
the State, Mr.. Redding stated that favor
able reports concerning the fish have been
received. Increased quantities are daily
coming into the market.
Encouraging reports were received from
the State salmon hatchery at Hat creek, IN
Shasta county, where the operations OF the
season promise most satisfactory results.
The salmon yield last year was reduced to
100000 fishes, although it was expected
TO make the number fully five times that
amount.
Secretary Sherwood reported that the
Commission had authorized the agents at
the Shelley hatchery to make certain
necessary improvements in the apparatus,
so as to increase the trout product to 35O,-
600. all of which are to be ready for general
distribution on October LIST.
]. W. Village, Captain of the Fish COM
mission steam launch Governor Stoneman,
plying on the Sacramento river, reported
that the sealionS or seals at the Gate and IN
the bay have converted themselves into
dangerous nuisance. He affirmed that on
many occasions seals had been seen and
captured in the river ct Sacramento. where
they had annihilated vast quantities of
salmon. One fishing vessel had returned
with thirty-three salmon and twenty-five
heads, captured in one net. Another YES
sci was successful in capturing similar tro-
phies, besides several seals which had
robbed the nets. The fishermen are be-
coming alarmed at their prospects, and
have submitted an offer to the Commission
to exterminate the seals, providing they
are duly protected and small bounty be
paid them for their services. The matter
was taken under consideration, with view
to bringing it before the municipal author
tiles at the first favorable opportunity.
report that the catfish have proved
dangerous to other classes of fish, devour
ing the spawn to an extent threatening ex-
termination, and that they are not desir-
able commodity i'll the market, was taken
up by Mr.. Sherwood, who stated that the
fish were misrepresented that they were
harmless and that they have become de-
sirable commodity in the market. In sup
port of this statement, Mr.. Sherwood said
that one merchant at Sacramento had dis
posed of ten tons during the past season.
A dozen arrests so far this season (all of
Chinese) for violating the fish law were re-
ported also, that fishermen's licenses to
the amount of 81 600 have been collected
since April LIST.
President Reuter- addressed the Commits
sion upon the progress made in the impor-
tation of game fowl from foreign ports into
the State. The English pheasant and part
ridge had been highly recommended as
birds worthy of his notice, but he had taken
no steps in the matter of selecting birds,
because he had been daily expecting a COM
munication from the State Sportsmen's
Club relating to the matter The law just
passed has given the Commission wide
scope in this field, but he did not wish to
act hastily in an important matter and i'm
port worthless breeds. He stated that if
the Sportsmen's Club would furnish him
with a list of the most desirable birds for
purposes of food and domestication, the
Commission would at once take action in
the premises